6 Products For Effectively Removing Carpet and Upholstery Stains (and Pet Odors)!

Furniture and rugs are big investments, and carpets, well, we just try to keep carpets looking as beautiful as we can for as long as we can. I can share stories of my very expensive new sofa that my cat took on as her own personal executive washroom. I can tell you about the time my daughter was born at home (it was unplanned!) and bloody footprints graced my grey bedroom carpet. When it comes to dealing with the worst of the worst stains, I have been there and I have come out on the other side A-ok. so, let’s look at 6 products that I rely on to deal with all of these stains and odors.

READ: 5 Stubborn Carpet Stains & How to Remove Them!

The Ultimate Stain Remover: Enzyme Cleaners

What the heck is an enzyme cleaner and how does it work? Good, I’m glad you asked, this is going to make stain removal a heck of a lot easier for you. Enzymes exist in our bodies and nature and their job is to break down organic matter. I’m sure you’ve heard of ‘digestive enzymes‘, and what they do is help the digestion process so our bodies can readily absorb food. Certain enzymes can be used for cleaning to break down odors, grease, grime, dirt, proteins, tannins, pet stains, and more. The cool thing about them is that specific enzymes can be used to fight a specific type of issue, which is perfect for a pet stain, or a grease smudge, or garbage odors—there’s an enzyme for that!

You apply them to a surface, allow them to sit, wet, on that surface for however long the product recommends. Generally, you’ll be asked to place plastic or a wet towel over a carpet or upholstery stain to keep those enzymes active; the longer they’re wet, the more they can multiply, seek and digest the stain matter. To remove them, again, follow the recommendations on the product. That said, oftentimes these are no-rinse formulas, rather, you vacuum the surface when fully dry to lift any dried remnants. It’s pretty incredible!

Also, we have a full article all about the magic of enzyme cleaners.

Biokleen Bac-Out  Stain & Odor Remover

Created in a garage in Oregon, Jim Rimer decided to leave his job as chemical supply sales executive and make a product line – Biokleen – that was strong enough for janitorial use but safe enough for families. Bac-Out was born, the first of many products created by Jim and his team. All of their products are free of phosphates, chlorine, ammonia, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, brighteners, artificial colors, artificial fragrance. This enzyme-based cleaner is still one of my very favourites after all of these years. It’s great for carpet and upholstery stains, an dcan be used in many other ways around the house, too. A jug is always on hand at the CMS HQ. Shop Now

Puracy Natural Stain Remover

Similar to Bac-Out, a pair of best friends in Austin, Texas wanted to create a line of home and personal care products that were safe enough to use with their daughters. Puracy was born and they haven’t looked back since. The product which I think is the crown jewel of their collection is their Natural Stain Remover which contains six plant enzymes that serve six different purposes all in one product. It’s very effective and I’ve used it successfully on laundry stains and carpet and upholstery stains. Shop Now

Rocco & Roxie Pet Odor Eliminator

This product has over 60,000 positive reviews on Amazon. People say they just about gave up on pet stains before trying this stuff. The Pro Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator – Enzyme-Powered Pet Odor & Stain Remover for Dog and Cat Urine is a must have for pet parents, able to tackle the toughest pet stains and smells while using the gentle action of enzymes. Shop Now

Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

This product has been around for over 40 years and people tout it as nothing short of magic. I didn’t believe what I was reading so I ordered a bottle myself. We have a strip of old carpet that will soon be replaced in our basement and it is home to some rank stains that I leave there specifically to test products on. I took my new bottle of Folex and sprayed an old stain that I had left there for a moment just like this. Folex claims to be a no-rinse product. Spray, slightly agitate and walk away. To my amazement, the old stain faded to while after a spritz and gentle scrub with a cleaning toothbrush. No rinsing, and several days later there’s no sticky residue left behind. The product is also non-toxic. I now recommend this to friends and family to keep on hand. Shop Now

Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro

If carpets grace the floors of your home, this is the tool for you. I have had an older version of this same model since about 2014. That’s right – it lasts that long! What I like is that it can be used for carpets as well as for spot cleaning and stairs. The ProHeat feature means the cleaning solution is kept hot, making the cleaning process more effective. Shop Now

Bissell Little Green ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner

If you have no carpets but rugs at home but know spills and stains are imminent, this is about the size of a small dog and will fit under a cupboard neatly. Pull it out any time your pet has an accident or your kiddo (or you!) spills something on a soft surface. Shop Now

Make sure to use the appropriate cleaners with your carpet and upholstery cleaning machines. Using the incorrect one can ruin the machine and/or void the warranty.